Fun Facts – What It Takes To Bring Panto Magically To Life At The Alhambra Theatre!

Image by Phil Tragen

Yorkshire’s biggest family pantomime, Cinderella, opened in December 2023 to standing ovations and glowing reviews, and will run until Sunday 21 January at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford.

Pantomime legend, Billy Pearce, leads the star-studded line-up of Yorkshire’s biggest panto playing the loveable Buttons; along with Emmerdale star Samantha Giles as The Wicked Stepmother; and celebrity baker and Strictly Come Dancing finalist John Whaite as Dandini. They are joined by Dale Mathurin as Prince Charming; Yorkshire local Sarah Pearson (who hails from Huddersfield) in the title role of Cinderella; Phil Hitchcock as Magician Baron Hardup; and Wendy Somerville and Larissa Alexandrovnia as The Wicked Stepsisters.

To deliver this “hugely entertaining family show” (Telegraph & Argus), which is “full of fun and spectacle” (Yorkshire Times), there is an army of backstage people, production crew and venue staff who work tirelessly during rehearsals and every performance to bring this gigantic show to life. Here’s a peek behind the scenes into what audiences might not know:

• Alhambra Theatre crew worked 1,066 hours in the first week which included the fit up, rehearsals and shows.

• 188 lamps have been rigged/ hung in the auditorium and on stage to light the panto this year - 144 of them are LED and 44 are not. Most of the LED lamps can change colour and have 3000+ assorted colour options.

• 630 knots were tied to hold all the cloths up that are flown in the show.

• There are 50 speakers used in the production to play the music, effects, singing and dialogue.

• There are 85 pumpkins in the show. Some are obvious (the ones that in the cart that Billy appears with) and then there are some hidden on the flying carriage, and some are created by light.

• As well as the two mice that are transformed into the horses, there are another 20 mice on the set.

• Billy first yells “Hiya kids” 10 minutes and 1 second into the show.

• 41 pyros (special stage fireworks) are used in the show (our most yet!) - that is 2,911 over the run.

• During the panto so far, the Food & Beverage team has served over 7 tons of draught beer.

• Approximately 500 baubles adorned the Christmas trees in the venue; the largest bauble on the main tree in the foyer is half a metre wide, and the longest bauble is just under 1 metre long.

• 3,284 merchandise items have been sold so far (with 2 more weeks to go!), including programmes and our own panto pony plush toys.

• The Kiosk team has sold 15,245 confectionary items, including fizzy pop, bags of chocolate and sweets; and 17,695 ice creams have been enjoyed by audiences in the depths of winter!

• Theatre staff will usually start making “oh no it isn’t” jokes with colleagues in summer when Front of House start their preparations for the pantomime run!

The annual Alhambra Theatre pantomime brings together the work of over 30 technical and production staff, 20 performers and musicians. Plus, there are up to an additional 160 venue staff, including food & beverage, box office, cleaning, front of house and stage-door teams, who work to ensure the venue is ready to open its doors to the public during the run of pantomime.

“Director Ed Curtis has done a splendid job in mixing it all up; making panto relevant for today’s audiences, while retaining the traditional elements that have entertained generations of theatregoers.” Telegraph & Argus

“… The Alhambra panto still reigns supreme.” 5/5 Yorkshire Post

“The Alhambra is a panto of spectacle and this year’s doesn’t disappoint” Yorkshire Times

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Cinderella - Alhambra Theatre, Bradford closes Sunday 21 January 2024

Tickets: £42.75 - £18.75 (inclusive of booking fees) Call the Box Office on 01274 432000 or visit bradford-theatres.co.uk